The movie theater emptied, and the two of them squeezed through the heavy curtain along with the crowd.
Outside, the night had already fallen like thick ink spilled across the sky, street lamps casting a dim yellow halo.
Mu Ming’s arm was still wrapped around Mu Xi’s like a supple vine, clinging tightly to her, almost half-hanging on her.
“How was it? Did you like the movie?”
Mu Ming tilted her head, her ruby-red eyes sparkling in the night, a sly smile playing on her lips as her body swayed gently with the pace, tugging on Mu Xi’s arm.
“Mecha War with Magical Girls… who even came up with that?”
Mu Xi’s voice was a little dry, her gaze drifting toward the blurry neon lights in the distance.
She hadn’t really paid attention to the battle on screen for two whole hours; the heavy warmth pressing against her right shoulder had claimed all her senses.
“I thought it was interesting.”
Mu Ming seemed quite pleased with the answer, not loosening her grip but instead pulling Mu Xi’s arm even tighter, her cheek rubbing softly against the thin fabric of the hoodie.
“Mm…”
Mu Xi replied softly, letting herself be led along, though her brows furrowed slightly as if sorting through some tangled thoughts.
The two walked silently through the night streets, returning to their familiar yet chilly home.
“I’m going to take a shower.”
Mu Xi’s voice carried a clear exhaustion, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
She slipped off her shoes and headed straight for the bathroom, draping the hoodie casually over the back of a chair.
“Want me to help you~?”
Mu Ming’s figure appeared in the shadowed living room, leaning against the doorframe with a mischievous curve to her lips, her red eyes gleaming with a teasing light in the dimness.
Mu Xi’s hand froze on the bathroom door handle, a faint blush suddenly blooming on her cheeks.
She turned her head, her tone mixed with annoyance, embarrassment, and a hint of confusion: “Don’t joke like that.”
“Hehe.”
Mu Ming didn’t persist, letting out a light laugh before fading silently into the shadows in the corner, leaving behind only a faint trace of her dark aura hanging in the air.
The warm water rinsed over Mu Xi’s body but couldn’t wash away the inexplicable fatigue and confusion.
After showering, Mu Xi stepped out in soft pajamas, steam trailing from her wet hair.
The living room was silent, with only the occasional sound of cars outside.
She looked around the empty room, once again alone.
That familiar, cold loneliness crept up like a tide, silently engulfing every corner.
Lying in bed, Mu Xi sank into the soft pillow, staring at the ceiling.
Everything that happened today played back like a revolving lantern in her mind.
That noisy, stubborn, clingy little creature had taken over her sight and space with all its claws and fangs.
That expression… really didn’t seem like the Little Witch Who Brings Disaster at all.
Clearly… just an immature kid.
Outside, the Empress Moon hung high, its cold blue light flowing silently through the window, tracing faint outlines of the furniture on the bedroom floor.
Without the noises that little creature made, the room was so quiet that she could hear her own breathing and heartbeat.
This silence felt especially vast and… lonely.
“Sigh.”
A long sigh escaped her lips as Mu Xi closed her eyes, forcing herself to fall asleep.
Suddenly—
She felt something moving gently beneath the thin quilt.
Warm, with subtle undulations.
Should be… the cat she raised, climbing up? Mu Xi thought drowsily.
No!
She snapped awake—she didn’t even have a cat!
Her heart clenched sharply as she threw the quilt off!
Beneath it was that familiar black-haired figure.
Mu Ming, wearing oversized pajamas pulled out from somewhere, lazily sprawled across the bed, her cheek pressed against the soft bedsheet.
The moonlight outlined the gentle curve of her profile.
“What are you doing…”
Mu Ming mumbled in a thick, sleepy voice, eyes still shut, “sleeping~”
“What are you doing?!”
Mu Xi’s voice was filled with surprise and a barely perceptible tension.
“Sleeping… what else…”
Mu Ming muttered groggily, like a lazy cat, crawling slowly toward the pillow.
Then, as if it were the most natural thing, she stretched out an arm and hugged Mu Xi’s arm, rubbing her cheek contentedly and settling into a comfortable position.
“What are you doing? Get off.”
Mu Xi tried to pull her arm back, voice tinged with helplessness.
“No, no…”
Mu Ming hugged tighter, her voice sticky and stubborn like a child throwing a tantrum, “sleep with me~”
“…”
Before Mu Xi could say anything more, steady and rhythmic breathing came from beside her.
Mu Ming had already fallen asleep while holding her arm like that.
Looking at the girl so close, her face unusually peaceful and almost childish under the moonlight, Mu Xi swallowed all her words.
She sighed again.
Lately… it seemed like she was always sighing.
“Sigh.”
Mu Xi resigned herself and lay down stiffly.
Her eyes involuntarily landed on Mu Ming’s face.
Long eyelashes cast tiny fan-shaped shadows beneath her eyelids, her nostrils twitching slightly with each breath, warm breath occasionally brushing Mu Xi’s cheek, carrying a strange, heart-tickling itch.
The more Mu Xi looked, the more stunned she seemed.
Just as she hesitated whether to turn away and face the other way from this “intruder”—
Mu Ming’s arm wrapped around hers unconsciously tightened, and the other arm groped over, as if clutching her most beloved pillow, firmly “trapping” her by her side, leaving no room to move.
Mu Xi lay on her side, watching the black-haired girl treat her like a giant pillow, sleeping with complete abandon.
Moonlight flowed over her loose hair, illuminating a face so similar to hers yet with a completely different aura.
A complex emotion surged within her.
Clearly… just a kid.
That thought resurfaced vividly again.
Mu Xi’s tense body finally relaxed bit by bit, wrapped in the steady breathing and warmth.
She slowly closed her eyes, allowing herself to sink into the disturbed but unexpectedly no longer cold darkness.
The steady breathing spilled softly from Mu Xi’s lips, signaling that she had fallen asleep.
In the quiet darkness where only moonlight flowed—
A pair of crimson eyes silently opened.
Mu Ming’s eyes were wide awake, clear like rubies soaked in cold spring water.
She lay still for a moment, listening carefully to Mu Xi’s calm, deep breaths.
Once she confirmed Mu Xi was fully asleep, Mu Ming moved with extraordinary lightness.
She carefully, little by little, slipped her arms and legs off Mu Xi.
Like the most skillful shadow, she silently slid off the bed, bare feet touching the cold floor.
In the darkness, the corners of her lips couldn’t help but lift into an arc filled with excitement and mischief.
Her red eyes flickered with a faint glow in the night.
“Hehehe…”
A barely audible chuckle escaped her lips, carrying an uncontrollable joy, “I haven’t had enough fun today yet~”
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